Rowers from South Africa’s three medal-winning boats at the Olympic Games will all be in action at the 2023 World Rowing Masters Regatta taking place on home soil at Roodeplaat Dam in Pretoria from 21 to 24 September.
The four-day showpiece will not only be a historic event as the first World Rowing regatta on African soil but will give sports fans a rare opportunity to see some of the biggest names in South African rowing history on the same water. Among the Olympic legends that will be in action are medallists from Athens 2004, London 2012, and Rio 2016.
Highlighting the allure of the event, six of South Africa’s Olympic medallists – Ramon di Clemente (Athens 2004), James Thompson, John Smith, Sizwe Ndlovu (London 2012), Lawrence Brittain and Shaun Keeling (Rio 2016) – will be competing in the regatta.
Di Clemente and Donovan Cech made history by winning South Africa’s first-ever rowing medal, a bronze in the men’s pair at Athens 2004.
In a reunion of sorts, the triumphant men’s lightweight coxless four crew from London 2012 will return to Roodeplaat Dam where they spent hours on end fine-tuning before delivering South African rowing’s magnum opus. All members of the crew, except for Matt Brittain, will be back on familiar waters.
Thompson and Smith went on to win the men’s lightweight double sculls at the World Championships in 2014 before finishing fourth in the same boat in Rio 2016. Smith, who is vying for his fourth Olympics appearance in Paris 2024, will also be competing at the World Rowing Championships in early September.
“This is going to be the biggest rowing event that will ever come to South Africa. We are very proud to be the hosts of this event,” said Thompson, who was a member of the successful RMB national squad.
“The sport of rowing in South Africa has a much deeper history than a lot of people realise, and a particularly strong Olympic history. The sport has a high-performance team based in Pretoria which continues to strengthen.
The regatta will see no fewer than 12 South African Olympians take to the oars including Ivan Pentz and Andrew Lonmon-Davis, who were part of the men’s eight that competed in Barcelona 1992.
Other rowing legends include two-time Olympians Helen Robinson and Colleen Orsmond. The duo finished 11th in debut in Atlanta 1996 before finishing in a creditable fifth place in Sydney 2000 four years later.
Kate Christowitz, fifth place finisher from Rio 2016 and Beijing 2008 Olympian Rika Geyser will also be in action.
Held annually, the World Rowing Masters Regatta involves rowers from 27 years of age and older. Races are separated into age categories, starting at those with a minimum age of 27 and continuing to crews with an average age of 89 or more. Local hero, John Price (93) will be the oldest South African rower at the championships.
Roodeplaat Dam, the home of South Africa’s elite rowing programme, has been upgraded for the global showpiece, leaving a lasting legacy for the future.
The regatta is an opportunity for aspiring young rowers to witness world-class rowing on home soil and inspire them to follow in the footsteps of South Africa’s famous medallists. The event also provides the South African rowing community with an opportunity to gain valuable experience to host future local, regional, and international regattas.
The 2023 World Rowing Masters Regatta will feature more than 850 athletes from 41 countries and five continents. Medals will be awarded to winners of each race or heat final.
Singles finals will be held at the end of each day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the eight fastest finishers from the heats in each age category.
For more information about the 2023 World Rowing Masters Regatta, visit https://wrmr2023.africa.
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EVENT DIARY DETAILS:
Dates: 21 to 24 September 2023
Time: 8.30 am to 4.30pm (Thursday 21 to Saturday 23 September)
9.00am to 12.00pm (Sunday 24 September)
Location: Roodeplaat Dam
ABOUT THE WORLD ROWING MASTERS REGATTA
The World Rowing Masters Regatta caters to all rowers aged 27 and upwards is a club regatta that allows competitors to enter instead of qualifying for the showpiece through national selection nor do they represent their countries. The annual regatta has been held each year since its debut in 1974, except for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
PARTNERS:
- Gauteng Provincial Government
- Rand Merchant Bank
- Balwin Properties
- Blue Planet
- G4 Civils
- City of Tshwane
